We should know that there is one occasion where sacrifice is more important than obedience ...but it is in two different contexts. The sacrifice that Jesus did for us on Calvary is the ultimate act ...that overrides our lack of obedience, as we can never obey to the extent of proving ourselves worthy. Jesus felt we were worth His dying for us ...to provide a way, when there was no way (because He is righteous, and none of us can earn eternal life in a heavenly abode.)
It seems rather complex, but it's not ...it just takes an attentive heart, as it is not simple either.
If I decided I wanted to experience what it is like in the mission field, and I asked what I could do to help ...and someone said I could pass out Bibles, and I said, "Sure, I can do that!" Yet, if I became bored and felt what someone else was doing was more fun ...what impact would I have on the people I was handing out Bibles to, if I didn't look at them, didn't smile, and was passing them out so fast that it was evident to them that I didn't think what I was doing was very important?
Now, it could be a case like when Tom Sawyer made it to look very interesting to Ben Rogers, so much so that Ben felt privileged to do Tom's work ...but, oftentimes that is not the game, as it is a concept held fast to, to exclude others as if only certain ones can do a task or are qualified or worthy to do it.
In both cases, the thing gets done, but the attitude about it is entirely different in both cases.
And I know 'some people' (though I don't like that phrase, it exists because 'some people' exist) will say that there are times when only certain people are qualified, and I know that. I know that I would never attempt to do surgery on someone, nor would I attempt to fly an airplane if the pilot was not feeling very well, and all the passengers were impatient over the possibility the flight would be delayed.
But I do know my prayers can fly faster than any airplane. Well, they don't really fly ...because God is omnipresent, and He hears all our prayers. And though miracles are not always performed, God could do it ...yet, more importantly, He can surgically know what is inside us and what we need. And what we foremost need ...is to know Him.
And what of our obedience? And why did God give the people standards by which to obey, then tell them that He was unsatisfied with their acts of sacrifice, which was an outward expression of their obedience?
Well, the outward expression was supposed to be instilled by their inner feelings.
God is not a taskmaster ...as His desire for His people was not just to do the expected things, but to also understand why it was good to do them.
No comments:
Post a Comment